11 PRICES TRACKED
Respite care (per week)
A short-term care-home stay to give family carers a break, priced per week and often at a premium.
Every price we track (hover a dot)
The gap: advertised vs actually paid (medians)
People reported paying 35% more than the advertised list price for respite care.
List prices are advertised prices; paid figures are what people reported, often for different cases. Treat the gap as a signal, not a quote.
Quoted vs actually paid (real submissions)
The strongest signal there is: what one person was quoted, and what the same job actually cost them.
- quoted £1,100↔paid £1,1000%
- quoted £1,500↔paid £1,5000%
- quoted £2,500↔paid £2,5000%
| Year | Region | Provider | What it was | List | Paid | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | UK | Unknown | Respite place in a care home | — | £1,100quoted £1,100 | source |
| 2026 | UK unspecified | Unknown | Respite care, per weekSelf-funder UK average, residential respite care | £1,377 | — | source |
| 2026 | UK average | Unknown | Residential respite care (self-funder average)Lottie respite care cost data, last updated 10 April 2026. | £1,377survey avg | — | source |
| 2026 | UK unspecified | Unknown | Respite care, per weekSelf-funder UK average, residential dementia respite care | £1,430 | — | source |
| 2026 | UK average | Unknown | Home-based respite care, overnight sleep-inBased on a quoted day rate of £210 for overnight sleeping cover, multiplied by 7 days. | £1,470survey avg | — | source |
| 2024 | UK | Unknown | Respite stay in a care home | — | £1,500quoted £1,500 | source |
| 2026 | London | Unknown | Respite care, per weekSelf-funder London average, residential respite care | £1,532 | — | source |
| 2026 | UK unspecified | Unknown | Respite care, per weekSelf-funder UK average, nursing respite care | £1,600 | — | source |
| 2026 | UK average | Unknown | Nursing respite care (self-funder average)Lottie respite care cost data, last updated 10 April 2026. | £1,600survey avg | — | source |
| 2025 | UK unspecified | Unknown | Respite care, per weekSelf-funded respite stay, poster reports the weekly rate at the time | — | £2,500 | source |
| 2024 | UK | Unknown | Respite care stay | — | £2,500quoted £2,500 | source |
Common questions
How much does respite care cost in the UK?
Across 11 real UK prices, the median is £1,500, ranging from £1,100 to £2,500. These are published prices and bills people actually paid, not estimates.
Why do respite care prices vary so much?
Care fees depend on the type of care, the home, the area, and whether you fund it yourself or the council does. Self-funders routinely pay far more than the council rate for the same room.
How can I pay less for respite care?
Ask for the full weekly fee in writing including any top-ups, compare several homes, check the council rate for your area, and get a care-needs assessment before you commit.
Related free guides
- How much does respite care cost per week in the UK? →
- How much does a care home cost per week in the UK? →
- How much does nursing care cost per week in the UK? →
- How much does dementia care cost per week in the UK? →
- How much does home care cost per hour in the UK? →
- How much does live-in care cost per week in the UK? →
Methodology: prices here are published prices and bills people reported paying. Each row says which it is, with a link to the source where one exists. We never estimate and no sponsor can touch a number. Spot an error? Tell us and we will fix or remove it fast.